Technology is constantly evolving, and nowhere is this more true than on the web. When PFP Track was first launched in 2006, it represented a leap forward for club management software systems: it was a web application in an industry that was still primarily reliant on desktop applications.

You could access it in a browser, and that, along with the many features we built into it, made it cutting edge.

A lot has changed since 2006. Many other software development companies have made the move to the Internet, although many club owners are still using desktop applications to run their clubs.

The state of fitness club management software has moved forward, and so has the state of web development in general - very much so.

New software development tools have eased the development of complex web applications. New technologies in the browser and faster computers have extended the limits of what is possible online.

We've also heard from an increasing number of club owners that they want simple, easy-to-use software that can handle replace the software they are using alongside PFP Track in their clubs to improve their personal training business.

PFP Track has always been focused on managing personal training departments according to the principles of the Pro Fitness Program, but there's room for growth into other areas of the club, including managing memberships.

We're paying close attention to trends on the web. We're also listening to you. We know many of you are frustrated by the clunky desktop applications you're using right now. We know you want to avoid having to enter data in twice, or more than twice, in various systems.

We know you want great software and we know we can provide it.

That's why we've set out to take PFP Track to the next level. We've commenced building the next version of PFP Track on an entirely new platform. We're rewriting the software from the ground up, we're expanding it, and we're making it a lot better.

But to make this happen, we need your help. We need your suggestions and comments. (You can leave them here if you wish, to get started, or contact us.)

We will also be commencing a beta program that will allow selected clubs to try out the software in advance to provide feedback. Preference will be given to clubs who commit to spending time with the new software in order to test it and provide substantial feedback. Let us know if you're interested by contacting us.

The tentative launch date for PFP Track 2 is at the end of March, 2010. We'll keep you posted on progress in the weeks ahead.

Every month our organization emails out a monthly newsletter to our PFP clients. And every month we receive the same inquiries about why the same Fitness Consultants (FCs) continue to produce consistent personal training sales results and why others continue to fall short of the mark. It's not unusual for our top FCs to convert 30% or more of all new fitness club members to a package of one on one personal training of no less than 12 session and in many cases anywhere from 36 sessions right up to 144 sessions. In fact last month Denise Reid at the Athletic Club in Guelph Ontario wrote $55,000 in personal training sales out of her little Fitness Consultation Office combining two 144 session packs, three 72 packs and an amazing 208 session renewal program along with her other sales. Time and time again our top FCs write more personal training business than entire fitness departments because they take their position and career seriously and they focus on selling truths.

Our FCs make no apologies for the fact that they love to sell what they're most passionate about and what they most believe in. They're all about selling truths and making the best possible diagnosis and prescription for their clients. They understand that clubs that only sell memberships and do not disclose the total picture of what it takes to get real results for life are doing a tremendous disservice to their communities and to the fitness industry as a whole. Pro Fitness Program FCs simply sell the truth that results come out of a combination of motivation, intensity, education and technique, safety, flexibility and mobility and fundamental nutrition and that a coach will provide guidance, support and an overall plan that will be executed over a specific period of time to ensure the most effective and efficient path to real lasting results.

If you ask me it's imperative that the number one focus of our FCs is completing as many quality Fitness Consultaions as possible in the course of the month. It is also a must that whoever fills this role is fully committed to the postion on a full time basis and derives the majority, if not all of their income from this role. In many of larger facilities our full time FCs complete over 100 consultations per month. In smaller markets and smaller clubs that number should never fall below 2 consultations daly or no less than 50 per month. That always involves going beyond waiting for members to walk through door and buy a membership. It requires a marketing plan and strategy that targets existing and former club members, corporations, local businesses, trade shows and simply the desire to go out into the community and educate people on the misconceptions of diet and weight loss and what it really takes to develop a healthy lifestyle.

Our PFP Business Consultants are qualified and full trained to work with your FCs and Trainers in developing a marketing strategy to increase traffic to your personal training departments. We have been extremely successful recently in using Craig's List to recruit qualified individuals who are eager to start a career in the fitness industry. Our 4 - part, industry specific interview process guarantees that we uncover the right fit for the position from the start. We follow that up with our training manuals, DVDs, phone and email support along with conference calls with other experienced FCs in the PFP family of clubs. If you are truly a club that wants to have a large impact on your community's health and wellness and at the same time are in business to be profitable and grow your personal training business, allow us the opportunity to directly work with your FCs to set goals and marketing strategies thereby ensuring the best possible member experience as well as full time rewarding careers for your fitness team. At the same time please allow us to take a page out of the Jack Welch shool of business and either transition those who are not performing to another area of your club or towards another career choice that better suits their skill set. We owe it to our organizations and to them to constantly give feedback and make sure they're in a position or occupation that best expresses their passions and skill set - let's not deny anyone that.